Tuesday’s slate featured seven wins, nine saves, six losses, and six blown saves by relievers. Here are the saves in condensed form:
There have been 825 saves this season by 211 different pitchers.
Here are the vulture save options:
Vulture Save Options for 7.29.2026
- Fernando Cruz (NYY): Bednar has pitched in two straight games and four times in the last five days.
- Mason Montgomery (PIT): Soto has appeared in consecutive contests.
- Bryan Abreu (HOU): Hader has appeared in back-to-back games and in four of the last five days.
- Cole Winn (TEX): Latz and Junis have pitched the two previous games.
Doubleheader Recommendations for a vulture save in a sweep
- Atlanta Braves: Preferred option – Tyler Kinley
- New York Mets: Preferred option – Huascar Brazobán
Vulture Save Stash for 7.30.2026
- Calvin Faucher (MIA): If Fairbanks pitches today, it’s consecutive contests for the veteran closer.
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Our Trade Deadline Market Trends for relievers entering gameplay on July 24.
Logging scoreless 11th and 12th innings, Gerardo Carrillo earned his first MLB win, issuing a walk (intentional – Bryan Reynolds) and recording three strikeouts in Pittsburgh. He threw 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%).
- Kevin Ginkel suffered his first blown save, having the “courtesy runner” score on a fielder’s choice error at first base.
- Juan Morillo allowed Ryan O’Hearn’s bloop double, then retired the next two batters, one via strikeout, keeping the game tied during two-thirds of the ninth.
- Paul Sewald allowed three hits, including two home runs, and three earned runs during one-third of the ninth, resulting in his third blown save. He’s allowed at least a run in four of his last five appearances, including four home runs, setting a career high of 11 already this season through only 37.2 innings.
- Brandyn Garcia stranded two runners, striking out his only batter in the eighth for his 13th hold.
Sewald should be considered to be in the “hot seat.” Here are the postgame comments by Tory Lovullo:
Converting 24 of 27 save opportunities should not be overlooked; Sewald has rewarded those who took a chance on him for saves this season. However, his struggles with home runs- he’s currently tied for the most allowed by qualified relievers this season- combined with anticipated fatigue at this point of the season, necessitate a changing of the guard.
If you need a replacement for Sewald, I recommend Juan Morillo. He’s 1-0 in July with five holds, a 0.883 WHIP, and 11 strikeouts against three walks (19.5 K-BB%) across 11.1 innings. Brandyn Garcia has been very good, but is the only left-handed leverage option in the bullpen. Justin Martinez could return later in August; he has not yet appeared in a rehab game in the minors.
Until it’s announced:
Hierarchy Remains: Paul Sewald | Juan Morillo | Brandyn Garcia
Three Takeaways
Leeway for Lange waning? Handed a one-run lead at the bottom of the ninth, Alex Lange allowed Vic Caratini’s leadoff single, issued Brooks Lee a one-out walk, struck out Ryan Kreidler, followed by Royce Lewis’ walk-off, two-RBI triple, resulting in his sixth loss and third blown save. He gave up two hits, two earned runs, and a walk during two-thirds of an inning. He has allowed at least a run in four of his last six appearances, three of which resulted in multiple runs.
Steven Cruz logged a scoreless eighth, navigating around a hit with a double-play groundout and a strikeout, notching his third hold. Since June 23, he has a 1-1 record with two saves, recording a 0.875 WHIP with 16 strikeouts against four walks (20 K-BB%) across 16 innings. He should receive more save chances moving forward. It’s not said, but intimated by Anne Rogers in her game recap for MLB.com:
Until a change occurs:
Updated Hierarchy: Alex Lange | Steven Cruz | Daniel Lynch IV
Another Angels’ late-inning loss: With the score tied at the top of the ninth, Mitch Farris gave up Nick Allen’s leadoff double, Christian Vázquez’s one-out single putting runners at the corners, and a two-out RBI single by Yordan Alvarez, resulting in his second loss. Samy Natera Jr. stranded a runner in the seventh and logged 1.1 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two. Kirby Yates allowed a hit and recorded two strikeouts in two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Ryan Zeferjahn | *Sam Bachman | *Samy Natera Jr.
*= closer-by-committee
One, two, three, three blown saves: Tasked with the bottom of the ninth in a tied contest, Jimmy Herget gave up Jackson Merrill’s leadoff single, issued consecutive walks, and a walk-off sacrifice fly by Xander Bogaerts, resulting in his fourth loss. Victor Vodnik allowed two hits and an unearned run while striking out one while getting charged with his third blown save. Brennan Bernardino let both inherited runners score in the seventh on Merrill’s RBI single and an error, yielding a hit and striking out one during his fourth blown save. Antonio Senzatela also suffered a blown save, his fifth, letting one of two inherited runners score, giving up three hits, two runs (one earned), and a walk during two-thirds of the seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: Jordan Romano | Antonio Senzatela | Victor Vodnik
Here are the remaining leverage events of interest from Tuesday.
American League
Cleveland Guardians – (Game 1) – Becoming the first reliever with 30 saves this year, Cade Smith preserved a one-run lead, working around a two-out walk with a game-ending flyout. He threw 18 pitches (50% Strike Rate) without a whiff and recorded a strikeout in this appearance. He has been scoreless in nine of 10 games in July, converting four of five save opportunities while posting a 0.562 WHIP with 11 strikeouts and two walks (24.3 K-BB%) across 10.2 innings.
- Hunter Gaddis notched his 21st hold, allowing two hits and striking out one in a scoreless bottom of the eighth.
- Colin Holderman collected his sixth win, retiring the side and striking out one in the seventh, followed by his team’s go-ahead rally at the top of the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Cade Smith | Hunter Gaddis | Colin Holderman
Houston Astros – Eschewing workload concerns, Josh Hader recorded his 14th save in a clean bottom of the ninth while facing the Angels’ 8-9-1 hitters, dispensing them on four pitches, all strikes, while inducing one whiff. He has appeared in four of the last five days and in 11 games this month, posting a 1.444 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and five walks across nine innings, converting six saves.
- Steven Okert collected his fourth win, firing a clean eighth and striking out two.
- Bryan Abreu tossed a clean seventh, striking out one.
- Enyel De Los Santos retired the side and recorded two strikeouts in the sixth.
Hierarchy Remains: Josh Hader | Bryan Abreu | Steven Okert
New York Yankees – All good things must end, including MLB’s longest scoreless streak at 21 games, spanning 24 innings. David Bednar could not complete the combined shutout, allowing Braden Montgomery’s one-out single and Chase Meidroth’s two-out, two-run home run, ahead of a game-ending strikeout. Bednar notched his 22nd save, appearing for the fourth time in the last five days. He threw 25 pitches (68% Strike Rate) and generated six whiffs (24 SwStr%) while striking out three.
- Brent Headrick gave up a hit during a scoreless eighth, securing his 14th hold.
- Angel Chivilli retired the side in the seventh for his second hold.
Hierarchy Remains: David Bednar | Fernando Cruz | Brent Headrick
Seattle Mariners – It was a white-knuckle ride with Andrés Muñoz when he allowed consecutive hits at the bottom of the ninth by Dalton Rushing and an RBI double by Shohei Ohtani, who reached third on an error. After retiring the next two batters, one via strikeout, Muñoz walked Max Muncy with two outs, who stole second base, before inducing a game-ending Mookie Betts groundout, sealing the one-run margin and his 19th save. He threw 29 pitches (18 strikes – 62.1% Strike Rate) and produced three whiffs (10.3 SwStr%).
- Eduard Bazardo notched his 21st hold, retiring the side in the eighth.
- Jose A. Ferrer earned his fourth win, tossing a clean seventh ahead of his team’s go-ahead rally at the top of the eighth.
- Gabe Speier worked a clean sixth, striking out one.
Hierarchy Remains: Andrés Muñoz | Eduard Bazardo | Gabe Speier
Texas Rangers – Posting his 21st save, Jacob Latz preserved a three-run lead in Tampa Bay, retiring the side on 10 pitches (80% Strike Rate) without a whiff. This snapped a streak of back-to-back games allowing a run, and he’s been scoreless in eight of his last ten appearances, converting all six save chances with a 0.667 WHIP and 11 strikeouts against three walks (19 K-BB%) over 12 innings.
- Jakob Junis allowed a hit and had a runner reach on an error, but turned in a scoreless eighth, notching his 14th hold.
- Tyler Alexander worked a scoreless seventh, yielding a hit and striking out one for his 11th hold.
- Peyton Gray let an inherited runner score, giving up a hit and striking out one in two-thirds of the sixth, recording his seventh hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Jacob Latz | Jakob Junis | Tyler Alexander
The Athletics – Called on with two runners on and two outs at the top of the eighth, Hogan Harris allowed Wilyer Abreu’s RBI single and recorded an inning-ending strikeout of Cedanne Rafaela. Returning for the ninth, a one-out single by Jarren Duran and a two-out, two-run home run by Connor Wong cut the lead to one, but Harris induced a game-ending flyout, hanging on for his ninth hold. He finished with three hits and two earned runs while striking out three across his 1.1 innings, throwing 26 pitches (20 strikes – 76.9% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (15.4 SwStr%). This snapped his six-game scoreless streak, but he has recorded all three A’s saves in the second half.
- Luis Medina logged 1.2 innings, giving up two hits, an earned run, and two walks while striking out one for his sixth hold.
Hierarchy Remains: *Hogan Harris | *Luis Medina | José Suarez
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Detroit Tigers: Wrapping up a lopsided, combined shutout, Ty Madden retired all six batters, two via strikeout, throwing 27 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) with four whiffs (14.8 SwStr%). Could he reprise Keider Montero’s multi-inning leverage role going forward?
- Minnesota Twins: Benefiting from a walk-off, Jack Anderson collected his first career win. He worked a scoreless top of the ninth, giving up Nick Loftin’s one-out single and recording two strikeouts, keeping his team within one run.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Appearing in a loss, Jeff Hoffman worked a clean bottom of the eighth and recorded two strikeouts against the Nationals.
National League
Cincinnati Reds – (Game 1) – With the score tied, Brock Burke gave up a hit during a scoreless top of the sixth. Pierce Johnson retired the side and recorded a strikeout in the seventh. Sam Moll allowed two hits, an RBI sacrifice bunt, and a walk, resulting in his seventh loss at the top of the eighth.
(Game 2) – Perhaps the save should go to Dane Myers based on his game-ending catch, but Emilio Pagán navigated around Gabriel Arias’ one-out single and recorded two strikeouts, preserving a combined shutout for his 11th save. He threw 17 pitches (13 strikes – 76.5% Strike Rate) and produced four whiffs (23.5 SwStr%). He remains scoreless in his last four appearances, with a save in each.
- Tejay Antone notched his sixth hold, stranded a runner in the seventh and retired all four batters, two via strikeout.
- Jose Franco earned his first career win, logging 3.2 innings, yielding a hit and walking two while recording two strikeouts.
Hierarchy Remains: Emilio Pagán | Brock Burke | Tejay Antone
Miami Marlins – Shutting the door on his 14th save and sealing a 1-0 win over the Phillies, Pete Fairbanks fired a clean top of the ninth, striking out two while facing the 4-5-6 hitters. He threw nine pitches (88.9% Strike Rate) and produced two whiffs (22.2 SwStr%). It’s only his second save this month and his second consecutive clean appearance with the trade deadline on the horizon.
- Calvin Faucher worked a clean eighth, securing his 12th hold.
Hierarchy Remains: Pete Fairbanks | Michael Petersen | Calvin Faucher
San Diego Padres – Not only did Mason Miller strike out the side while facing Colorado’s 2-3-4 hitters at the top of the ninth, keeping the game tied, but he collected his third win courtesy of a walk-off at the bottom of the inning. He threw 11 pitches (81.8% Strike Rate) and racked up five whiffs (45.5 SwStr%) in a dominant appearance. He’s been scoreless in his last nine games, recording a 0.67 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and two walks (45.5 K-BB%) over nine innings, converting all six save chances.
- Adrian Morejon allowed two hits, an unearned run, and a walk while striking out one in the eighth.
Hierarchy Remains: Mason Miller | Adrian Morejon | Bradgely Rodriguez
Washington Nationals – Locking down his 11th save, Clayton Beeter preserved a two-run lead with a clean top of the ninth and two strikeouts against Toronto. He threw 12 pitches (66.7% Strike Rate) and induced two whiffs (16.7 SwStr%). He has been scoreless in his last three appearances, recording a save in each, and has converted three of four save chances in the second half.
- Orlando Ribalta retired all three batters in the eighth, striking out two for his ninth hold.
- Gus Varland gave up two hits and three runs (two earned) on George Springer’s three-run home run.
- Tom Cosgrove tossed a clean seventh.
Hierarchy Remains: *Clayton Beeter | *Tom Cosgrove | *Orlando Ribalta
*= closer-by-committee
Quick Hits
- Los Angeles Dodgers: As the first reliever in at the top of the seventh, Brock Stewart retired the side facing Seattle’s 8-9-1 hitters, but allowed a one-out single by Julio Rodríguez in the eighth, prompting his removal. Alex Vesia took over, serving up Dominic Canzone’s go-ahead two-run home run, and struck out two, resulting in Stewart’s first loss.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: After working a scoreless top of the 11th, Wilber Dotel recorded an out on a sacrifice bunt, followed by James McCann’s RBI single scoring the “courtesy runner,” resulting in his third loss. He logged two innings, allowing two hits and a walk. Gregory Soto worked into and then out of trouble, letting the “courtesy runner” score in the tenth, hitting a batter, and striking out two.
Holds Tally
Here are the holds from Tuesday’s slate:
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Statistical Credits: